Family

FAMILY HELPING CHILDREN MANAGE PEER PRESSURE

By Sara Listar-Guest

Fall is here. School and extracurricular activities are in full swing. It’s an exciting time for adolescents entering middle school and high school - new friends, new challenges and new experiences. But with that also come tests, both in and out of the classroom. The desire to fit in and feel like you are part of a group is normal, and most people feel this way at some point or other, especially in the middle school and teen years.

Even when trying to do their best academically and socially, it can be hard for teenagers to resist peer pressure. With the pressures of wanting to fit in many seek approval of their peers and begin experimenting with drugs and alcohol.

If kids are surrounded by people with similar values, managing peer pressure is usually not that difficult. But it can be difficult in a school environment when they are surrounded by people with a wide variety of attitudes and behaviors. They may know just what to do one minute but then feel completely overwhelmed and pulled to go against their better judgement the next.

Here are some tips for helping children manage peer pressure as they return to school: • Encourage your children to spend time with people who have similar values and won’t put them in uncomfortable situations.

• Help children set boundaries and give them permission to avoid people or situations that don’t feel right. It’s OK to leave a situation that feels uncomfortable.

• Tell your children that it’s not OK for others to force or pressure them into anything. They can tell others to stop pressuring them and choose to avoid spending time with people who make them feel pressured. • Remind children that they don’t have to be liked by or please everyone they meet.

• Teach your children about delay tactics. When other people or situations make them feel pressured, they can try using responses like: “Let me think about that” or “Can I get back to you?”

• There are going to be times when your children can’t avoid or delay a pressure-filled situation. Remind them it’s OK to say, “No Thanks” or “I can’t.”

• It’s OK to use an excuse if the truth is too challenging. If someone offers them a drink and they don’t want to take it, tell them to use phrases like “I have to get up early” or “I’m on medication so I can’t.”

• It’s OK for children to ask themselves “How am I feeling about this?” “Does this seem right to me?” Listening to our guts is important.

• Practice the buddy system. When your children think they may be in a pressure-filled situation, tell them to take someone with them. Someone who will support and respect their intentions to not drink or stay sober.

With the new school year about to begin, teens will desire to be socially accepted when they spend time with new people or are in new situations. Ensure a safe and healthy year by being an accountable parent and teaching the strategies needed to cope with peer pressure at the start of the new school year.

Sara Listar-Guest is a Marriage and Family Therapist for Southwest Behavioral & Health Service. For more information about helping your children manage peer pressure, visit the Southwest Behavioral & Health Service website at www. sbhservices.org. Preparing young minds to thrive in today’s global society.

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COVER STORY WOMEN ON ADVENTURES: GET OUT THERE AND HAVE SOME FUN

By Jennifer Marshall

What’s on your agenda for the weekend? Are you planning on vegging out on the couch and binge-watching the latest comedy craze? Or, perhaps you have no real plans except to plop your butt in front of the computer and scroll through social media to see how much more exciting your friends’ lives are than yours. Well, while you’re on your laptop, pull up the Women on Adventures website because you need some ADVENTURE in your life, and you need it now!

Jenny Zink is the proud founder and owner of Women on Adventures, and she’s a testament to the fact that getting out there on an adventure is healthy for your mind, body and soul. So, come along with me on this little journey to discover how you can harness the power of WoA to transform your ho-hum life into one of adventure. Zink moved to Phoenix in January 2015. Six months later, she wasn’t happy. In her quest to feel better, she studied the Meetup.com website searching for Meetups that were fun. Everything she found, though, was too specific for her taste; she wanted to experience a variety of activities and not just one type all the time.

She felt like she wasn’t taking full advantage of all the amazing opportunities her new home state afforded her. She was looking to explore and to hopefully connect with some likeminded women. So, she shifted her efforts from searching for the perfect Meetup to how to start her own.

Thus, in July of that year, she started her own Meetup, and her first one was to be a happy hour where she hoped women would meet, greet and schedule some adventures to do together. When she checked her computer the next morning, she saw 50 women had signed up. Within six months, she had over 2,000 members! Wow!

“My little Meetup had grown into a full-time job,” said Zink. “At the time, I was a freelance photographer between gigs, so I decided to turn my Meetup into a real online business. I set up a website and started selling memberships.”

Women on Adventures was born, and any adventure was up for grabs. While hiking was a viable choice, it wasn’t the only option. Starting out, she did bowling, stand up paddle boarding and horseback riding to name a few.

“I wanted our adventures to be anything that got us out of our comfort zone,” said Zink, “anything that we had an interest in or anything that challenged us.”

WoA offers monthly, annual and lifetime memberships. And for those who want to test the proverbial water, Zink offers a 30-day trial. Members have immediate access to the calendar where all of the adventures are listed. Once a member signs up for a particular adventure, all they have to do is show up and have the time of their lives!

Some adventures, like the “Hike and Brunch” and the “Coffee and Conversation,” are free. Other adventures, such as “Yoga in the Park,” are free but with the request that a donation be made to charity. And sometimes, there are adventures that entail an additional charge. Keeping watch on the calendar is key since there’s the perfect adventure waiting out there for every member.

As far as types of adventures go: “We’ll try anything once,” said Zink. “We all have different comfort zones, so adventure is different for everyone. The purpose is for women to challenge themselves because growth only happens in the challenges.”

One member might be petrified to go to “Coffee and Conversation” but have no problem rappelling a wall of sheer rock while another member might be the total opposite. That’s why WoA offers all types of adventures.

Adventures can be classified as “Outdoor Adventures,” “Inside Adventures” and “Education.”

“Outdoor Adventures” include: Hiking, Backpacking, Camping, Skiing, Rock Climbing, Kickball, Volleyball, Drive-in Movies and Rope Courses.

“Inside Adventures” include: Coffee and Conversation, Yoga, Pole Dancing, Bowling, Curling, Museums, Circus School and Indoor Skydiving. Circus School can be further expanded to include learning to Tightrope Walk, Trapeze and Juggle.

“Education” includes: Learning to Paint, Book Clubs, Cooking Classes and Vision Board Workshops.

Think of it as summer camp for the big girls!

Members aren’t limited to the above list of adventures; those are examples of some of the most popular activities.

“Many of my members are in transition,” said Zink, “like they’re newly divorced, or something has happened to stir up their lives and make them want to explore new places, see new things or try new activities.”

While her business is an online one, she has personally connected with the North 32nd community where she lives, works and plays. Her business has partnered with many of the local small businesses in the North 32nd

corridor. For example, she organized getting started, and that resulted from an adventure and “Yoga in the Park” someone else who just found me with Black Rock Bouldering Gym. online.” In the past, she’s also planned events with Empower Wellness Studio, In addition to the Outposts in Iowa, patronized local restaurants like 32 Kansas, Texas and Colorado, there are Shea and, of course, the nearby Phoe- ones in Minnesota and Ohio with Luxnix Mountains Preserve is the perfect embourg coming online next month. spot for hiking. “It’s amazing how many adventures courtesy of her Ambassadors, she are in this corner of the city,” said started a podcast this past February Zink. “Everyone who comes here 2018. from other parts of the Valley for an adventure is like: ‘Wow! There’s a lot “The podcasts are really popular,” happening here—it’s exciting.’ ” said Zink, “more popular than anyWhile Zink still loves going on ad- adventures themselves. I’m constantly ventures with her members, she has receiving messages from people Ambassadors, contracted employees, requesting episodes on specific topics who lead most of the adventures. like camping.” Her utilization of these contracted Ambassadors has enabled her busi- She loves that members are connectness to expand beyond the borders of ing with the podcasts, and she loves Arizona. that they’re eager to learn about Expansion has come in two forms empower women with the self-confor Zink. Several of her friends who fidence to go bold and strong and try loved WoA wanted to establish chap- new adventures on their own and with ters—or what she calls Outposts—in family and friends outside of the WoA their home states. These friends are network. now contracted Ambassadors of WoA in their respective states, and now Following the success of her podcasts, these Ambassadors are leading ad- Zink launched the first edition of her ventures in their area. Friendship cre- digital magazine in June 2018. The ated the Iowa and Kansas Outposts. quarterly magazine is available to

“Giving women experiences is really important to me,” said Zink. “When members start to do these little adventures, it gives them the courage to take on those bigger adventures. It’s like flexing that The other Outposts, such as the ones in Texas and Colorado, were established when people discovered WoA members only, and it’s chock-full of all things adventurous. In fact, the upcoming issue will delve into the world ”adventure muscle you have. via Facebook. of hiking.

“The Texas Outpost has over 50 members, and that’s just over the last two weeks,” said Zink. “It’s growing incredibly fast. Colorado is just Along with growing her Outposts, thing I’ve ever done other than the different adventures. Zink wants to “Fearless Friday Challenge” is another online activity where each week a unique smaller challenge is posted on social media. The objective is to keep the fun going while inspiring members to think creatively about adventures. She refers to these smaller challenges as “micro-adventures.”

“Giving women experiences is really important to me,” said Zink. “When members start to do these little adventures, it gives them the courage to take on those bigger adventures. It’s like flexing that adventure muscle you have.”

WoA has some great trips lined up for those members who are ready to really flex some adventure muscle.

At the end of September, a group is going to Mexico for beach time, paddle boarding and a nature center lecture.

Plans are in the works for upcoming adventures to thrilling destinations like White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Joshua Tree National Park.

A trip to Las Vegas is also planned, but it’s not one of those: “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” kind of getaways. This trip will allow members to savor the outdoorsy side of the city. Still another weekend trip will carry members on a tour of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state.

This has definitely been a fruitful year for WoA. Added to the celebration over the expanding Outposts and the successful introduction of the podcasts and magazine, WoA won the 2018 American Small Business Championship by SCORE.

SCORE, which is affiliated with the US Small Business Administration, has been providing complimentary mentoring to small businesses since 1964. The backbone of SCORE are its thousands of business professional volunteers who not only mentor but also lead classes and workshops.

According to WoA’s press release, their prizes include: “An all-expensepaid trip to a training and networking event, SCORE mentoring and publicity throughout the year and a chance to win one of three $15,000 grand prizes made possible with the support of Sam’s Club.”

Finally, they’ll also have the opportunity to compete to become Grand Champion. What an adventure!

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH SCOTTSDALE NORTH

By Scott Gaertner Lifestyle Contributor

WHY I AM INVOLVED WITH THIS PAPER

My name is Scott Gaertner and I have specialized in the Scottsdale North Real Estate market for longer than I care to admit, but I truly love it. I have always felt that the area has been a bit ignored or overlooked…a hidden jewel in the desert that has never gotten it’s full due. It doesn’t even have its own newspaper! I thought it was time to end this neglect, so I found the best small-town newspaper company in the valley and asked them to consider creating a hyper-local paper exclusively for these communities that I love so much. Welcome to the first edition!

WHY I LOVE THE SCOTTSDALE NORTH LIFESTYLE

I discovered the country club lifestyle back in the mid 1980’s when a builder I was working for gave me a membership to a country club as an enticement to take over sales at a struggling community. I had never been around a community focused on lifestyle and sports before, and being an avid golfer and tennis player, I felt like a kid in a candy store. I was immediately hooked because I never felt like I was working! All I was doing was telling people who enjoyed the same things I did about this amazing lifestyle I had discovered. I was just enrolling new friends to come enjoy it with me!

Once I found this secret that developers would pay me to do what I loved doing, I decided to take it up a notch. My next job was selling at the best country club available in the late 1980’s - Desert Mountain. They had three golf courses then! This is when my love affair with Scottsdale North began.

Eventually I decided it was too limiting to represent the lifestyle of just one country club. Since all I wanted to do was to help buyers find their

lifestyle niche, I started Scottsdale’s first real estate company that solely represented real estate buyers. While running that company, I had heard about plans for a new lifestyle community called Terravita that was going to be the first “affordable” lifestyle community in Scottsdale. When I discovered the actual details of the community, I quit my day job at the buyer’s agency and went to work selling homes for Del Webb, the developer of Terravita. It immediately became the most successful community in the United States. It was a six to ten-year project that sold out in just 3.5 years. On six occasions, people camped out in our parking lot to earn the privilege of buying a home in one of the new phases. One campout lasted 10 days!

Shortly after Terravita sold out, I was approached by Pulte Homes who had plans to build a community modeled after Terravita. It was located on an extraordinary piece of land right across the street, and it was called Winfield. Winfield was Pulte’s first attempt at creating this type of lifestyle community, and they needed help. It would be smaller and it wouldn't have golf, but it would have all the other lifestyle components, and the land was staggeringly beautiful with its own mountain preserve. How could I say no?!

Since leaving Winfield in 2001, I have been helping buyers and sellers find their lifestyle niche in Scottsdale North. Recently I have consulted with and become the preferred broker for Shea Homes at another incredible community modeled after Terravita, Trilogy at Verde River. Shea Homes is currently the best builder in this lifestyle space and I loved partnering with them, but not as an employee.

Today I have a team called The Scott Gaertner Group. We are dedicated to helping people find their dream home in a community that best fits their lifestyle. I am hopeful that this newspaper will help more people recognize that Scottsdale North is the place to be!

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

ARE WE IN ANOTHER

By Scott Gaertner Lifestyle Contributor

The question above is easily the most common question I am asked, so it makes sense to speak to it here in our first edition.

The short answer is no. One of the contributing factors for all the bubble talk is that lately there has been some reporting that our real estate market is back to the home pricing set in the 2006 pre-bust market. That is exciting news, but unfortunately it doesn’t have the benefit of being true. There are some metrics that matched those pre-bubble levels but saying that we are back to those pricing levels is more than a little deceptive. Speaking directly to this topic, our local numbers guru Michael Orr of the Cromford Report says, “We therefore estimate that the average single-family home in Maricopa County has a 14 percent rise in price to achieve before it reaches its value in June 2006. Individual homes will obviously vary quite a bit.” And even that appraisal speaks to a much lower price point than the Scottsdale North market.

BACK TO THE BUBBLE

Our last bubble was inflated by funny money loans that no longer exist and haven’t for a long time. Lending standards are just now beginning to loosen from the over-correction brought on by the bust. The number of homes delinquent on their payments and/ or in foreclosure today in Maricopa County is at or near historic lows. Also, the economy is booming now, and the Maricopa county population grew more than any county in the country

REAL ESTATE BUBBLE?

last year. We will keep our eyes on the market for you, and let you know if we see any danger signs. But for now, let’s end the discussion with a quote from Jim Belfiore, the president of Belfiore Real Estate Consulting, who is considered an authority on our local market: “Recent healthy growth in the Phoenix-Area housing market is based upon solid supply and demand intrinsics that are likely to continue to push up home prices. The industry’s concern is not demand today, it is supply - how to meet the needs of buyers with a thin labor pool. Any mention of a housing

‘bubble’ at this point, is nonsense.”